The Irish government issued a full and formal State apology on Tuesday to survivors of Bill Kenneally, a convicted paedophile whose crimes were facilitated by police inaction. Taoiseach Micheál Martin led the apology in the Dáil, while Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan addressed the chamber to apologise for the wholly inadequate investigation by gardaí.
The apology follows a Commission of Investigation that found a clear and serious dereliction of duty by senior gardaí when they learned of Kenneally's abuse of boys in the late 1980s. Kenneally was sentenced to 19 years for abusing boys in Waterford between 1979 and 1990 and died in prison in June 2026, days after the commission's report was published.
Survivors and their families arrived at Leinster House ahead of the proceedings. Victim Jason Clancy said the apology adds closure after a hard battle, while Colin Power called for a separate apology from Fianna Fáil, alleging the party failed to act despite knowledge of the abuse.